Teen DD off to the Reading festival next week, tips please!

[BigSandyBalls2015]

There was a fab thread on here last year with loads of tips but I can't find it.

17 year old DD is off there next week with ten mates. What does she need to take, what aren't you allowed to take.

Anyone?

Tell her to stay away from drugs. Even if she’s the most sensible girl in the world, tell her again.

Ah my first ever festival was Reading! Not sure what you're not allowed to take but my tips:

Blow Up Air Bed
Baby Wipes
Spare Phone
Proper Pillow
VODKA!
Sun Cream (always seems to get really hot at Reading)
Wellies
Raincoat
Snacks snacks and more snacks

A vodka bottle fits in an empty pringles tube

Great tip HRT! Also lots of water I forgot that!

Ticket
Water bottle
Baby wipes
Hand sanitiser
Money
Phone
Charge pack for phone
Waterproof coat
Suncream
Toilet roll
Plasters
Paracetamol
Sleeping mat
Sleeping bag
Bin bags to put dirty/wet clothes in
Clothes
Extra socks
Sturdy, waterproof boots/shoes
Flipflops
Small towel
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Dry shampoo
Warm clothes for if it's cold at night
Snacks (cereal bars or similar)

Second time my daughter took more wipes and dry shampoo.

Don't bring:
Any glass bottles

Condoms, and watch out for blokes groping/forceing rapey behaviour.

we've smuggled minatures of alcohol in a tampon box! Never gets checked.
wet wipes
dry shampoo
lots of small snacks
a good pillow and blow up bed even if its a single
a waterproof that folds up really small and if possible a fold up chair for the times you are just monged out with tiredness.

My 17 year old dd is going too so taking notes!

I usually stick miniatures in my bra 👌

the bare minimum!
water bottles as she can refill these on site with the taps, rather than lugging in heavy bottles on day 1. TheThirdOfHerName has all the essentials. Also get them to look into which camp site they want to be in. The ones further away from the main arena tend to be a bit less rowdy. White i think is the furthest but a good 30 min trek in to the main arena.

Yes and don't camp near the toilets or near the walkways as you get drunk people falling on your tent!

Mine went about 8 years ago. It's a rite of passage really!

The biggest problem is getting stuff nicked from your tent. DDs boyfriend had his wellies nicked. So, try and work out how you are going to lock the tent. Padlock maybe?

Also, there seem to be rumours that get circulated about tents being burned in the night. DD could not sleep.

If there is a mosh pit - the boys go wild and trample on the girls. DDs friend had to go home with a very swollen foot. DD did not go in it. V Festival is so much more straightforward with far fewer manic drunk boys because the music is different/

Oh I forgot. DDs friend could not get medical attention due to the other "emergencies" that were being dealt with by the medical staff. Her grandfather had to pick her up in the early hours and go to a hospital. Nightmare. Also, never again for DD.

Bum bag, which she then puts in her sleeping bag at night with her. All valuables need to be kept close and on her at all times, and a bum bag is the easiest way to do this.
Blister plasters
Remind her to not accept any food/drink from anyone she doesn't know very well (ie, knew before the festival) unless she's seen it bought.
If she feels at all dodgy about anything, go to a member of staff and ask for help.
If she loses her friends or is worried, go to the welfare tent

I usually buy a single duvet & a pillow when I go to festivals, you can usually leave them there and they can be donated to the homeless (same with tents)
Water carrier
Take vix vapour rub to put under noses (toilets can get quite smelly)
Camping kettle & flask(need a brew in the morning)
Dry shampoo/baby wipes/sanitizer
You can also buy gas hair straighteners (they where a life saver)
Waterproof jacket/rain mac
You can take any spirits but have to put them in a plastic bottle/container and can drink as much as you like at your tent but can't take into the arena (very easily smugglable)
Empty shampoo bottle and fill it up and shove it down your bra or back of pants 😂

Ohh I wouldn't take anything valuable at all, no Jewellery or anything apart from fashion accessories and phone
.... can get power bank phone charger too as they usually charge an arm and a leg at festivals for them, can get them in the pound shops and just pre charge them before she goes get a couple

DD’s number one advice: tell her to be careful with how much she takes! She has been 5 years in a row and every year says she regrets taking as much as she did - and IMO she barely takes anything! Once you have queued and walked to your campsite (DD camps in Purple so has to walk a bit from the main gate) you have usually been carrying your stuff for about two hours so it’s absolutely knackering.

DD usually arrives, pitches up and chills for a bit before heading back out to buy loads of snacks at a local shop so they don’t weigh her down on her way in. Also - tell her not to worry too much about stuff being set on fire. In DD’s experience they are so strict with that sort of stuff these recent years. And don’t padlock your tent - it makes it look like you have something valuable to hide and if they want it people will just slit a hole in the tent door!!

A cheap PAYG phone might be useful, to keep in touch with her mates and you but not too worrying if it's lost. Wouldn't want a smartphone stolen. Not sure how she'd charge it though.....

Ooh thanks I'll tell her all this. I am a bit concerned but it is a right of passage. She's been known to overdo the booze on occasion but we've been there to pick her up, clean her up. So there have been lots of convos about having a laugh but not overdoing it. And def no drugs!

Just hope it's sunk in.

Following this with interest

My main question: how much cash to take? Do food outlets take cards? Which is safer to take?

She's got an early bird pass so goes down on the wed. Presumably she'll have quite a pick of where to pitch?